After what he calls an “eye-opening” meeting with Kentucky’s electric cooperatives, a Federal Communications Commission official says the discussion will lead to an ongoing partnership with co-ops to help rural Kentuckians.

Lyle Ishida, FCC’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division chief, met with Kentucky co-op staff in December at Nolin RECC’s Elizabethtown headquarters. His visit was part of the FCC’s Appalachian Region Consumer Outreach Rural Tour in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Ishida briefed the co-ops on the FCC’s efforts to battle fraudulent robocalls. While Ishida focused on scams related to callers posing as Internal Revenue Service employees, every co-op at the meeting reported that scammers using similar methods have posed as co-ops in schemes threatening to cut off service unless the consumer-members send them immediate payment.

Co-ops caution that those receiving such a call should hang up and call their local co-op at the number on their bill.

Ishida also heard concerns about the need for broadband service for rural residents, which he says is a priority for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

Nolin RECC President and CEO Mickey Miller and his incoming successor Greg Lee updated Ishida on the innovative technology used by Kentucky co-ops, including advanced metering systems approved by the FCC that allow co-ops to more efficiently and effectively serve consumer-members.

It was the year of legendary thoroughbreds. Man O’ War won his first race and Sir Barton was first to win the Triple Crown.

The year 1919 would also see the birth of the American Legion, United Parcel Service and what is now one of the commonwealth’s most recognizable organizations, the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

The agriculture organization has come a long way since its first meeting in Louisville in November 1919. Now touting 500,000 members, Kentucky Farm Bureau is one of the largest in the nation.

“The year was 1919,” says Mark Haney, Kentucky Farm Bureau president, “Since then, much has changed. But one thing remains: KFB is still the voice of ag in this state and the strongest of advocates for Kentucky’s farm families.”

KFB kicked off its centennial year during its 99th Annual Meeting in November, asking members, “Why Farm Bureau?”

One key response is tied to the organization’s unified voice, from grassroots members to leadership.

“It’s a powerful tool to make sure Kentucky has a successful future,” Haney says. “KFB gives leaders the tools, encouragement and supportive voice they need to make sure our farmers’ voices are heard in Frankfort and Washington, D.C.”

KFB also highlights the importance of service to Kentucky, including through insurance services and support of education.

“Congratulations to our good friends at the Kentucky Farm Bureau,” says Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “We serve many of the same Kentuckians and share a mission to improve the quality of life here. Thank you for being a great partner, and our warm wishes for the next 100 years.”

In November, the economic development team for Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives received the 2018 Organization Excellence Award from the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA), an organization of economic development professionals focused on the issues and opportunities of rural America.

“Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are an innovative organization which uses that innovation to market their cooperatives in the economic development realm,” says Dennis Mingyar, NREDA Awards chair. “They took cutting-edge technology, combined it with a new marketing concept, and formed one unique brand with which to market their cooperatives. This effort has helped secure almost 10,000 new jobs in their cooperatives’ service territory.”

The award recognizes Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives for using technology such as data from aerial drone flights, online videos and mobile mapping apps to market rural Kentucky communities globally, attracting jobs and investment to Kentucky. Those initiatives are highlighted on the co-ops’ economic development site, www.DataIsPower.org.

“This award is especially gratifying because the leaders and members of NREDA understand the unique challenges faced by rural communities in attracting jobs and investment,” says Rodney Hitch, Economic Development director for Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Terry Gill, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, applauded the cooperatives’ work and ongoing service to the state.

“Whether it’s a prospective investment by an internationally based tech company or an expansion by a longtime local manufacturer, the team at Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives recognizes economic development projects take trust, partnership and a long-term commitment,” Gill says.

Service and honor

CAMPBELLSVILLE

Erin Wise, a 27-year employee at Taylor County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, had heard the excited recollections of those who had gone on an Honor Flight.

Designed for veterans, the flights take vets to Washington, D.C., to see the war memorials and be honored for their contributions to the country. Erin decided to volunteer as a guardian, someone who helps veterans with individual needs.

The day was “awesome,” Erin says. The emotions of the day and the appreciation of the veterans remained with her long after the trip was over. She decided to volunteer again—and then again.

The third time Erin was a guardian for her father, James Thompson, who served during the Korean War.

“Every American should get to see what happens on those trips,” Erin says. “Such great stories. The one thing that impressed me most was that regular citizens come up and thank the vets and want their picture taken with them. I will always have that time with my dad and the stories he told me about serving in Alaska.”

Spreading the word

WEST LIBERTY

Through Gideons International, an association of Christian business and professional people, some 2 billion Bibles in 100 languages have been distributed in 200 countries.

Helping place those Bibles is Kerry K. Howard, general manager/CEO of Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative.

“This is close to my heart,” Kerry says. “Placing the Bibles is a mission I can do right here at home.”

Kerry presents a Bible to every fifth-grader in the Magoffin County school system. He presents Bibles with camouflage covers to military recruits, large-print Bibles to nursing home residents, New Testaments to trick-or-treaters, and Bibles without covers to inmates. (Hardcovers are not allowed in prisons.) He also gives Bibles to motels, doctor’s offices, high school seniors and most anyone who desires one.

“I also speak at churches,” Kerry notes. “Some will bring the Bible they got in the fifth-grade with them. They still remember that. It is always exciting to hear the stories.”

Celebrating the New Year with our common purpose

Who is my neighbor?

It’s a question worth asking, whether in scripture or your community. It’s a question that electric cooperatives eagerly answer, because we are neighbors.

Whenever I think of the word “neighbor,” I think of my grandfather Joe Perry, who was a World War II veteran and a school bus mechanic who loved working on cars. When I was a child, he loved taking me on Sunday drives to visit neighbors and family.

He was a soft-spoken man who thought it was important for people to talk to one another, to sit on the porch together. I think about my grandfather as I drive across Kentucky to check in with our member co-ops. Yes, we have email, video conferencing and social media to keep up with each other today, but there is nothing like breathing the same air and meeting face-to-face.

It’s that spirit of neighborliness that is our co-op theme this year: Your Neighbor, Your Energy. Co-ops are not only neighbors because we live in the same communities as the people we serve, we are neighbors because we share a common purpose and interest: to improve the quality of life in our communities.

Your Neighbor, Your Energy also embraces our cooperative business model. As the energy landscape continues to change, know that your statewide association is working every day to protect members—both the largest customer we serve and the rural family at the end of the line.

Your local co-op is in a great position to serve your home area because a co-op—by its very nature—is uniquely suited to understand its own community. Your co-op was built by, belongs to and is led by people in your community.

Neighbors look out for one another. We’ll be looking out for you in Frankfort and Washington, D.C., as elected leaders make decisions that affect you. And, we may be asking for your help at times in that effort.

My grandfather’s Sunday drives  took us to nearby friends and distant hollers—but we were all neighbors. We checked on new calves and the corn crop and always shared a pitcher of iced tea.

As 2019 begins, let’s celebrate our connections and relationships. Let’s be neighbors.